Ultra fast prime lenses seem to be all the rage lately, but do we really need them?
Ever since the Nikon z6 and Z7 were launched in late 2018, it seems as though manufacturers are scrambling to produce the fastest prime lenses that they can. The latest manufacturer to apparently be getting in on this is Chinese manufacturer Yongnou. Known for their ultra cheap lenses, it seems as though they are are stepping up their game by testing out a potential E Mount 50mm f1.0 lens. But why? Do we really need ultra fast glass? After the break we have a video that shows the alleged lens in action. Come check it out.
Fast glass is great. Prime lenses, and zoom lenses that have large apertures allow us to shoot much more easily in low light situations, and they allow us to blow out the background of our images so that we can create subject isolation (a firm fave with portrait photographers), but good grief; just how fast do we need lenses to be?
The never ending chase for bokeh seems to be the reason why lenses like the alleged Yongnou 50mm autofocus f1.0 are being born. The big question is why are we constantly chasing lenses that can obliterate the background to the point of looking like a colorful mess?
Surely f1.2 prime lenses like the Canon 50mm f1.2 RF mount are more than sufficient? The truth is that even f1.2 lenses are really overkill for the average user, not to mention they can be difficult to use. Even Sony said this! The next question is who are these ultra fast, ultra expensive lenses being marketed to?
The Nikon 58mm f0.95 Z mount lens could hit the streets with a price tag of around $6,000 in the next few months, and while we all may dream of owning such a lens, dropping six grand on one lens that will likely never pay for itself is a large pill for average photographer to swallow.
The potential offering from Yongnou which was recently captured in a video and shared by Sony Alpha Rumors will surely be much cheaper than the offering from Nikon when it launches in early 2019, but it will still likely fall within the few thousand dollars category. Is anyone really going to spend that much on a lens made by a company that typically sells their glass for under $100?
As mentioned above, the big question is why do we need these lenses? Why are we thirsting after lenses that are f1.0 and faster? Do we really have that much of an obsession with bokeh that we’re willing to drop the same amount of cash on one lens as we would on a small car? Will that extra one stop of light really make that much difference in your life?
Modern cameras are leaps and bounds ahead of cameras from even just a few years ago when it comes to high ISO performance. Cranking up the ISO to 3200, even 6400 will yield more than enough light when paired with a f1.8, f1.4, and the currently available f1.2 lenses, and image quality will still be more than good enough which really makes these ultra fast prime lenses mute. Check out the video of this lens in action below.
What do you think about these lenses that will be hitting store shelves with such large apertures? Can you see yourself purchasing one? Do you really think we need lenses faster than f1.2? Let us know in the comment section below.
